Mechanical pencil



R. H; INGERsoLL v Y. 'MEQHANIGAL'PENLL' Filed Jing 7,':1925 l I f /lPatented Feb. 19, 19429.

UNITED STATES PATENT `OFF- ICE ROBERT H. INGERSOLL, OF NEW YORK, N.

Y.; CHARLESS. SMITH AND FREDERIC C.

LEUBUSCI-IER, EXECUTORS F SAID ROBERT H. INGERSOLL, DECEASED, ASSIGNORSTO ROBT. H. INGERSOLL, INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEWYORK.

MECHANICAL PENCIL.

Application led July 7,

- mechanism ad'aptedto cooperatewith thel lead the lead, and forclamping adjacent the forward or writing end thereof for intermittentlypropelling or advancing the lead when the same has been projected toproper position for writ-ing. d

A further object of the invention is to provide a lead propellingmechanism for pencils wherein the means which-advances the lead` has alimited movement forward and baclward toward the writing end of thepencil, and wherein devices are provided so that when said lead feedingmeans is moved forward, the lead will be moved forward therewith, andwhen said means is moved backward, the lead will beheld from movementwith said reciprocating feeding means.v

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a lead feeding means ofthe above type wherein devices are provided for' clamping the lead andsaid devices are caused by the lead feeding means to alternately gripand' release the lead. A still further-object of the invention is toprovide a pencil of the above t pe having a 'reciprocating sleevethrough w nch the lead is passed and by which the lead is frictionally Jgripped with means for reciprocatingthe Y sleeve, and with'clutchingdogs operated by ping the lead when said sleeve is at one ex-` the4reciprocating movements of the sleeve to engage and hold the lead frommovement with the sleeve whensaid sleeve is retracted,

and wherein said dogs are disengaged from the lead when the sleeve ismoved in a forward'direction. l

A 'still' further object of the invention is to provide a pencil of theabove type wherein said sleeve is provided with means for griptreme endof its reciprocation.

'V .A further object of the inventionv resides in the providing of aninner casing 4in which a l plurality of leads may be stored, and meanswhereby said leads may be fed by gravity,

one at a time, into the propelling means for feeding the lead to writingposition.

These and other objects `will lin part bel supported thereby.

' terminates at some distance back or. ulp

1925. Serial No. 42,057.

. gagement with `the lead;

Fig. 4 is a detail on an enlarged scale showing the forward end of thepencil and the split or slotted clamping sleeve therefor with the partsin position so that the lead is released y from the sleeve, except for aslight frictional engagement between the sleeve and lead;

Fig. v5 is asimilar view', but showing the parts shifted so that thesleeve clamps the lead, and I Fig. 6 is a detail showing the manner ofmounting the dogson the. sleeve so that the sleeve may move bodilyrelative to the dogs The' invention is directed broadly to a mechanicalpencil of the t pe wherein a lead is advanced by aid of mec anicalstructure and is clamped at the writing point when in position forwriting. The pencil includes an outer casing which is formed, orprovided, with the usual tapered nose portion at the writing end of thepencil. Located within this outer casing and telescoping therein, is aninner casing or barrel which extends slightly beyond the upper end oftheouter casing so that a cap or vfinger piece maybe attached thereto formoving said inner casing'lengthwise ofthe outer casing.'l Then lower endof this'inner casing the writing end of the pencil. The s connected tothe lower end of said innercasing, and said sleeve is provided with apassage extending the entire length thereof. Theleadsare placed in theinner casing where they are stored,and are directed,one at a time, intothe passage through the sleeve. Located lin .the'outer casing is aspring which bears againsta fixed memberin the casing, at one endand'atthe other end, against a shoulder on the sleeve, and this springnormally moves the inner casing upwardly and, -away from the from eeve1s "far as the frictional portion.

writing end of the pencil. The operator, by pressing on the cap orfinger pieceat the upper end of the casing may move the inner casingdownwardly, compressing the spring. This` sleeve is split or slottedfrom the lower end thereof upwardly for about two-thirds of its length,and the sides of the split portions are selparated by the slots so as toform channels.

e-passage through the sleeve adjacent the writing end of the pencil isof substantially the same size as the lead, so as to frictionally gripthe same. The passage in the sleeve, however, throughout the greaterportion of its length is larger, so as to permit the lead to drop freelyby gravity down into the sleeve as The purpose ot' this fi'ictional gripof the sleeve on the lead is to afford means whereby the lead may bemoved forward when the sleeve is moved forlward. The frictional grip iscomparatively light and mean-s is provided which consists of two opposeddogs which lightly engage the lead when the sleeve is retracted so as tohold the lead and prevent it moving back with the sleeve, and thus it isthe sleeve secures a new frictional grip upon the lead so thatit may befed forward and projected from the writing end of the pencil. Saidsleeve and outer. easing have cooperating means which causev the splitends of the sleeve to grip the lead when the lead is in writingposition, andthe sleeve is at one end of its movement in the outercasing, so that the lead may be firmly held during writing. I

Referring more in detail to the-drawings, the improved mechanicalpencilconsists of an outer casing l within which is located an inner casingla. The outer casing is provided with the usual tapered portion 2 at the,writing end. The

inner casing l is considerably shorter than the outer casing, but isarranged therein so as to project beyond the upper end of theoutercasing, so that a cap 9 may be attached thereto and form a 'finger piecefor moving the inner casing downwardlyv yThis cap is also provided inthe outer casing.

with a shoulder sleeve 1() which'butts against the outer end of theouter casing and limits. the downward movement of the inner casing.

Located at the lower end of the inner casing is a sleeve 3. This sleeve1n the present embodiment of the invention projects beyond the yend ofthe casing 1 and has va nose portion 4 formed with a cam face, 5. The

length. said slot extending from the lower end thereof up into thesleeve forming fingers, and the side edges of the split portions arespaced so as to form chanels 14. The nose portion of the outer casinghas a comparatively small opening 6 so that the sleeve back from saidcam portion 5 will slide freely therethrough. The end of the noseportion engages the cam portion 5 when the sleeve is moved to the right,as shown in Fig. 5. The

sleeve is split or slotted for about three-fourths of. its"` end of thecasing sliding up on the cam 5 will cause the split'end portion ofthesleeve to grip the lead at a point very close to the writing point andthus clamp the lead for writing.

The sleeve 3 is rigidly attached at its upper end to the inner casing orbarrel la.' This is accomplished by providing the sleeve with a collar25a. Said collar 3a snugly fits within the lower end of the inner casing1a and may be secured thereto in any suitable way. The sleeve isprovided with a passageway 7L which extends throughout the entire lengthof the sleeve. This passageway 71 at the lower end, has a portionthereof indicated at 1.3 in Fig. 4, which is of smaller diameter thanthe remainder of the passageway through the sleeve indicated at 13l inFig. 4. The lead 7 extends down into the passageway 7 in the sleeve band is fed through the sleeve to writing position in the mannerhereinafter to be described. The portion 13 of the passageway is ofsubstantially the same diameter as the diameter of the lead, and willfriccated at 13a, is larger than the lead, and the' collar 3 has acone-shaped rportion 23 leading to this passageway, so that the leadsstored in .the chamber 24 formed by the inner casing may pass by gravityinto the pasageway 7a.

i lt is understood, of course, that while the pencil is shown in thedrawings horizontal, this of course, does not illustrate the properposition of the pencil during writing, or during handling. When thepencil is in writing andthus itg'is that the 1- automaticallyreplenished. if 4`Lo-k casing land belowthe:

partition orretaining?fy I position, it is nearly upright, and theleads,

collar 11 which is rigidly secured to the outer casing-1 in any.suitable' way. IBetween this retaining collar 11 and tlie'collar 3attached to the inner easing 1, isja spring 12. This spring bears at itslower end on the collar 1.'.1 and at its upper end .againstgthc collarla The spring normally tends to move the inner casing 1nt u iwardly andlaway froml the writ` ing end 'of die pencil. .The operator, through thecap or linger piece 9 can move the inner by compressing the casingdownwardly spring. The downward movement of the inner casing 1a and thesleeve 3 which is rigidly attached thereto, will move the leaddownwardly and cause it to project and remain beyond the end of theouter casing 1a. This is brought about through the frictional grip ofthe portion 13 of the sleeve 3 onthe lead l portion 21 cone-shaped assoine distance from and cooperating retainingdogs 15 and 16', which dogsand their mode of'opeiation will now bedescribed.

These dogs 15 and 16 are located in the spring wire has a irictionalgrip upon the" sleeve, but the sleeve can niove within' this springpivot ring whenever the dogs are held from movement with the sleeve. Thefixed collar'll has the lower end thereof formed indicated at 21 in'Fig.'Q of the drawings. -Secured to this fixed collar 11 is a sleeve 11a. The inner diameter of this sleeve is larger than the outei'face of thecone of the sleeve 11, The lower end of the sleeve 11nL has an inwardlyextending lip 19. Between this lip, which the cone-shaped portion 21,vthere is a recess formed'by the 'sleeve 11a l which houses the upperend-s of the dogs 15 1G are provided and 16. The dogs 15 and withtapered ends 22 which are adapted cooperate with the tion 21 of thecollar 11.

provided with shoulders These dogs are also 20 which are adapt# ed tocooperate with the lip 19. The spring 17 acts as a pivotal support forthe dogs and sleeve B. The lower ends of the dogs' which are indicatedat 15a and 16t--. respectively, are adapted to be moved. into lightengagementwith the -lead 7 as in- Y dicated in Fig. 2, or-moved .andheld out-lof engagement with the lead as indicated in Fig.

3. The cone-shaped cam 21 cooperating with the tapered ends 22, swingpivot spring into Contact with the lead, while.

' cause it to break when the dogs von the the `lip -19 on the sleeve 11cooperating with 'the shoulder Q0 on .the dogs, will move them out ofengagement with the lead-and hold the dogs (The purpose of these dogs isto restrainfthe `lead from movement whenthe sleeve'is` Ai e tracted 'forthe purpose of thefrictional'por; tion of the saine ohtaining'ayiewf-gi'ip on outot' engagement -witli the lead.

the lead.

When the finger piece orcap 9 is released,

12 moves the inner casingto the is, away'ffi'oin y inventiomvofcoiirsethis is 'through the'A action' of the spring 19. :forcing 'theinner casing-1- the spring riglit as viewed in Fig. l, that the writingend of the pencil. l`hev slcieye'ri3 being rigidly attached to saidcasing f will v move therewith. VVheirthe sleeve movesto i that they winiighay the right as viewed in these figures, the dogs 15 and 16'willmove therewith, by reason of the fact that the pivot spring engages thesleeve 3 with sufficient' frietional gripas to inofve the dogstherewith; This movementv occurs on the very first part `of the upwardmovement of the sleeve 3. The dogs will be is spaced cam faces of thecone porholding or clamping grip the ball shaped cams '.4 on cam faces','nd 6. on 'the outer casing are f brought intov contact-.by

spring, which -forces thetheretoltupwardly grip the lead. This broughtinto engagement with the conenient. After the sleeve is moved upwardly4to the limit of its movement, then the sleeve has anew fiictional gripupon the lead, and when the sleeve is moved downwardly, it will carrythedogs downwardly into engagementwitli the lip 19 which rocks the dogs outof engagement vwith the lead, and permits the lead to movefreely'with'the sleeve. The dogs have a very` limited movement with thesleeve which isv solely for the purpose. of moving the dogs into andout'of .engagement with the lead. Vhile in' engagement with the lead,they do not move end wise of the outer casing, `from movement with thesleeve. dogs are moved out of engagement or into eutial position,

iovement with'the outer sleeve. The only function of the dogs is toprevent the lead from returning with the sleeve when the sleeve'isretracted have nothing whatever t0 do with the feeding of the leadforward. excepting that they hold 4the lead when the-sleeve is retractedf or the purpose of .overcoming the friction which the 'sleeve has onthe lead. At no time dothe dogs grip into the lead so" as to indent itand exposed for writing. It is noted that this portion 13 o thesleevehas merely a frictional grip on the lead, when in its downward movement,and not a real thereon. In order to. clamp ythe lead when in .writinglposition,

the action of the split end 'ofthe sleeve. into tightr gripping gengageinentwith Ithe lead# In thepres'ent einhodii'nentof theaccomplished piece 9 vis released atoil lley writing en moves it-toi'tInitial lie in the channels 14 in the sleeve can move freely, allthoughthe dogs are restrained from move.-

they still. have'no endwise the sleeve andthe and the sleeve 3 connectedhen the caporf'nger ,i n'other-words,thegoperintermittently pressing onthegiinger piece will `feed. the lead stepby step out of the d o hepencil, but`when"" tl ie is1released,` then .the spring 11.25,

upward position where f Vand therefore, would hold the lead'4 1 Whenvthe the lead-is-l-claihplrhythe' split end ofthe sleeve through referredtor-... From the abovedescription it will be noted the ction 'of thecams justg the writing end is the i the mode of operation of theintermittent feed l claim as new and that I have provided a mechanicalpencil wherein devices operate upon the lead adjacent the writing point,both for feeding the lea-d forward and for gripping the lead and holdingit when in writing position. Therefore, the leads can be used right upto the last small end portions thereof, and furthermore, the lead isheld in proper condition for writing without any chance of wabbling, andwithout any chance of being forced back up into the pencil by thepressure of writing, and furthermore, there is little or no chance ofthe lead jamming.

As has already been noted, when the pencil is placed in a verticalposition with the writing end down, or in any position so that i lowest,the leads will pass by gravity from the chamber 24, one at a time, intothe passageway 7, and the sleeve 3 with the cooperating dogs will takeup an of the initial feed and those to follow. It has also been notedthat the drawings are not intended to show the pencil in position cothat the lead is fed by gravity into this passageway 7a. The purpose ofthe drawings is to show the structure and not pencil.l It will be,'readily understood by those skilled in the art, however, how the leadsare fed one after another by gravity, into the sleeve which takes up auautomatic intermittent feed of the leads, and which also clamps the leadat the writing point when it is in' Writing position.

While I have shown my inner casing as moved by the cap or lingerpiece'pressed 1n opposition to a spring, it will be understood, ofcourse, that other ways may be obvious for moving this inner casing backand forth. In fact, it may be moved positively in both d1- rections bythe operator, and the sleeve and the cooperating holding dogs will`function in precisely the same manner. It will be understood,therefore, that the invention is not limited necessarily to what mightbe called a punch type of pencil, but is broad enough to cover othermeans for operating the sleeve 3, and therefore, changes in the detailsof construction and arrangement of the parts may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appendedclaims.

Having thus described the invention, what desire to sccure'byLetters-Patent, isi 1. 'A mechanical pencil comprising a casing, andreciprocating member' associated therewith for supportingsand propellingthe lead and devices carried by said member for clamping said leadadjacent the Writing point thereof when said propelling means is at oneextreme end of its movement.

2. A mechanical pencil comprising a casing, and reciprocating meansassociated therewith for supporting and propelling the moan/so lead andfor clamping said lead adjacent the writing point thereof when saidpropelling means is at one extreme end of its movement, and forreleasing said clamp and means for restraining said lead from movementwhile said propelling means is retracted for the purpose of engaging thelead to further ad vance the same, said restraining means beingindependentofsaid clamping means.

3. A mechanical ing, a sleeve located within said casing and projectingfrom the casing at the writing end of the pencil, means connected to thecasing for moving the sleeve back and forth in the casing, said sleevehaving a passage therethrough for the lead and having a split endadapted to grip the lead and hold it in writing position, the passagethrough the sleeve adjacent the end thereof and for a portion of itslength being so proportioned relative to the lead as to make a lightfrictional grip upon the lead, said passage above the frictionalgripping portion being larger in diameter than thelead, and meansassociated with the sleeve for preventing the retraction of the leadwith the sleeve when the sleeve is retract-- ed whereby a. newfrictional grip upon the lead is obtained for advancing the lead.

4. A mechanical pencil -comprising an outer casing, an inner casinglocated in said outer casing and having 'a compartment in which theleads may be stored, a sleeve located within said outer casing andrigidly connected to said inner casing, said sleeve having a passagetherethrough for the lead, and a split end adapted to be forced intocontact with the lead for'holding it in writing position, said passagethrough the sleeve adjacent the end thereof and for a portion of itslength being so proportioned relative to .the lead as to make a lightfrictional grip uppencil comprising a cason the lead at all times, meansassociated with the sleeve for preventin the retraction of the lead withthe sleeve W ien the sleeve is rctracted whereby a new frictional gripupon the lead may be had for advancing the same,

lio

said passage at the upper end of said sleevev terminating inacone-shaped recess opening into the compartment within the inner casingso that leads stored in the' inner casing may pass by gravity intothepassage through the sleeve and be writing position.

an inner casing within said outer casing, means whereby said innercasing'may be moved back and forth in said outer casing, a sleeverigidly connected to the llower end of said inner casing, said sleevehaving a passage'therethrough for the lead, and a split end, meanswhereby said outer casing forces the split end of said sleeve intoengagement with the lead for holding it in writing position when theinner casing is at one end of its movement, a passage throughintermittently fed forward t0 mechanical pencil comprising anl outercasing,

v said sleeve -having when unrestrained, the

4 the lead with the sleeve when said a portion thereof at the split endso proportioned relative to the lead as to frictionally grip the lead,the portions of the sleeve formed by the splitting thereof being spacedfrom each other so'as to provide channels, holding dogs located 1n saidchannels, means for pivotallv supporting said dogs,'said pivotal supportforthe dogsextending about the sleeve and having a slight frictionalengagement therewith, whereby dogs will move with said sleeve, devicescooperating with'said dogs for moving the vsame into engagementl withthe lead when the sleeve is moved away from thewriting end of the pencilfor restraining the lead against movement with the sleeve whereby saidsleeve may be moved upwardly on the lead for a new frictional gripthereon,

and devices cooperating withthe dogs for moving the same out ofengagement withthe lead when thesleeve is moved in the oppositedirection whereby the frictional grip of the sleeve on the lead willadvance the lead and cause the same to project beyond the end of theouter casing and the sleeve. v

6. A mechanical pencil comprising a casing, a. sleeve located withinsaid casing and rejecting from the casing at the writing end of thepencil, means connected to said sleeve for moving said sleeve back andforth in the casing, said sleeve having a passage therethrough for thelead and having a split end making fingers adapted to grip the lead andlock it in writing position, said passage through the sleeve being soformed that said sleeve has a lightfrictionalgrip upon' the lead at alltimes, and means associated with said sleeve for preventing theretraction of sleeve is retracted to obtain a new frictional grip uponthe lead for advancing the same, said split end of the sleeve and saidcasing at the writing end thereof having cooperating means adapted tocause the split end of the sleeve to grip the lead whenthe sleeve isretracted.

7 A mechanical pencil comprising an outer casing, an inner casinglocated within said-outer casing, a sleeve located in the outer casingand connected to said inner casing, a spring inthe outer. casing formoving the inner casingand sleeve away from the-writingend of thepencil, a cap or lingervpiece attached to the inner casing for movingthe sleeve and inner casing toward the writing end of the pencil, saidsleeve having a passage therethrough for the lead, channels insaid-sleeve leading into said passage, said passage having a portionthereof of such diameter as to frictionally grip the `lead and movethelead with the sleeve,unless restrained from movement, dogs located' insaid channels,meansforpivotallysupportingsaiddogs, and devices formoving said dogs into contact with the lead when the inner casing ismoved upwardly away from the writing end of the Vspring in the outercasing spring in the outer casmg pencil so as to restrain the lead frommovement whereby said sleeve moves along the lead and obtains a newrictional grip there- 8. A. mechanical pencil comprising an outereasing, an inner casing located within said outer casing, a sleevelocated in the outer casing and connected to said inner casing, a

ner casing and sleeve away from the writing end of the pencil, a cap orlinger piece attached to the inner-,casing for moving the sleeve andinner casing toward the writing end ofthe pencil,'said sleeve having apassage therethrough for the lead, channels in said sleeve leading intosaid passage, said passage having a` portion thereof of such vdiameteras to frictionally grip the lead and move the lead with the sleeve,`unless .restrained from movement, dogs located in said channels, meansfor pivotally supporting'the dogs, devices for moving said dogs intocontact with the. lead when 4the inner casing is moved upwardly awayfrom the writing end of the pencil so as'to restrain the lead frommovement whereby said sleeve moves along -the lead and obtains a newrictional grip thereon, and devices cooperating with VA-said dogs formoving the dogs out of engagement with the'lead when the slee-ve andinner casing are moved toward the writing end of the pencil so thatsai-d lead is unrestrained by the dogs and free to move with the sleeve.

9. A mechanical pencil comprising an outer casing, an inner casinglocated within said outer casing, a sleeve located in the outer formoving the incasing and connected to said inner casing, a, A

for moving lthe inner casing and sleeve away from the writing end of thepencil, a cap or finger piece attached to the-inner casing-for movingthe sleeve and inner casing toward the writing end of the pencil, saidsleeve having a passage therethrough for the lead, channels in saidsleeve leading into said passage, said passage having a portion thereofof such diameter as to frictionally grip the'lead and move the lead`with the sleeve, unless restrained from movement, dogs located in saidchannels, means for pivotally supporting said dogs, devices for movingysaid dogs into contact with the lead when the inner casing ismovedvupwardly laway from the writing end of the pencil so as torestrain the lead from movement whereby said sleeve moves along the leadand obtains a new frictional grip thereon, devices cooperating with saiddogs for moving the dogs out of engagement with the 'lead when thesleeve and inner easing are moved toward the writingend of the pencil sothat said lead is unrestrained by the dogs and free to move with thesleeve` said sleeve having the end thereof split whereby said sleeve maybe moved into clamping engagement with the lead, and Vmeans whereby theand a split end, said 'passage being so proortioned relative to the leadas to make light rictional engagement therewith so that said lead willmove with the' sleeve unless r`estrained against movement, devicesoperated -by the movements of the sleeve for engaging the leadandrestraining the same against movement when said sleeve is moved away ,Afrom the writing end'of the pencil.

11. A mechanilcal pencil comprising an outer casing, an inner casing, asleeve located within said outer casingl and connected to said innercasing, said inner casing forming a compartment for storing the writingleads,vsaid sleevehavin a passa e formed therethrough for the leads, ana coneshaped. recess at the 'upper end of thesleeve leading into saidcompartment for 'directing the leads intothe passage through the sleeve,

said sleeve having means for frlctionally engaging the lead so as tocause the samewhen in the passage to move with the sleeve, means .forimoving. said sleeve and inner casing lengthwise of the outer casing,and means associated with the sleeve for restraining the movements ofthelead in the sleeve when ,thesleeve is moved away from the vwriting endof the pencil whereby said sleeve may ob tain a new frictional gripupon-the lead for advancing the same.

12. A vmechanical outer casing, an inner casing, a sleeve located withinsaid outer casing and connected to said, inner casing, said inner casingforming' a compartment for storing the writing leads, said sleevehaving` a passage formed therethrough for the leads, a cone-shapedrecess vat vthenpper end of' the `sleeve leadinginto :said compartmentfor directing the leads into the .passage through the sleeve, saidsleevehaving means tor rictionally engaging the llead so as to cause thesame when in the passageto move with the sleeve, means for `mmTJ ingsaid sleeve and inner casing lengthwise of the outer casing, meansassociated with the pencil comprising an sleeve for restraining themovement of the lead in thesleeve when the sleeve is moved away fromthewriting end of the pencil whereby said'sleeve may obtain a newfrictional grip upon the lead for advancing the same, and meansassociated with the sleeve for clamping. the lead when the lead is in Iproper position for writing.

13. 'A 'mechanical vpencil comprising an" outer casing, means locatedwithin the outer casing 'and adjacent the writlng end 'thereof lead fromVmovement when said first named-y means is retracted', 'and means at thewrite ing end of the pencil independent of the restraining means forclamping the lead and holding the same firmly during writing. l

In testimonv whereof, I aflix- 'my signaturel a ROBERT INGERSOLY.,

Zand-movable endwise of the 4casing for inv termittently vfeeding thelead forward to ,writing position, means `for restraining the

